Dog Food Ideas for EPI Dogs
While most EPI dogs do best on a low fiber (below 4%), grain free diet with normal amounts of fat (older studies found a diet that was low in fat below 12% was better, but this protocol has been changed), some dogs may do just fine with grains and conversely others may still do better with a lower fat diet.
Below is a list of foods that some EPI dogs are doing well on. This list was compiled from those that are using Pancreatin. I am not endorsing any of these foods and you should consult your veterinarian about what food is right for your EPI dog. There are many others on the market that will also work. This list is for reference only. Remember that dog food ingredients may change. Please note some of these have had recalls, others have not.
Dog food kibble list with prices
Pre-mixing Food With Enzymes & Boarding
To save time or allow for others to feed by using your own measurements it is nice to be able to make food up ahead of time
and have it ready to feed. This works for most pets but not for all; some adjustments may be needed to get the optimal results.
Some find that they will need to increase the enzyme amount and others do not. Some pets will eat it cold, some will not and you
will need to find a way to warm it a bit, such as floating it in a bowl of warm water.
The two easiest ways to make up meals ahead are in bags or containers. If you mix each meal in a bag or container with the correct
dose of enzymes you can shake them around and the enzymes will coat the kibble making mixing in the water not as important
for full distribution. Be sure containers are airtight. I stored a weeks worth of these baggies of enzymes and dry food in a
lidded container. Include a measuring cup for the correct amount of water or cut a solo cup to size so the same amount of water is
added if your pet is very sensitive to the amount of water added. I always sent extra meals just in case our plans got delayed.
• Use of baggies: Add food and enzymes to the bag for each meal. DO NOT ADD WATER. Shake each bag a bit to evenly distribute
the enzymes. When ready to use, dump into a bowl and add water, let set and serve. Store bags in an airtight container tll
ready to use.
• Use of Containers: Add food and enzymes to containers one per meal. Shake to evenly distribute. I mixed up 4 days at a time
with warm water let them sit for 20 minutes then place them in the refrigerator to be pulled out for each meal. Many dogs will eat
them cold and do fine. Store containers in a cool dry place that are not mixed with water.
Boarding: When boarding be sure to send extra meals if plans get delayed and send a small amount of extra enzymes. I knew that
if our dog was stressed sometimes he would need more enzymes and a few meals of adding an extra teaspoon of enzymes would
usually do the trick. Be sure to include a note with what is in the meals as well as dosing and what food is being used. It’s always
great to tuck in an EPI brochure and a sign to place on the kennel door stating that they are on a special diet and not to feed or
that special treats were sent (if your dog can tolerate them). Be sure to talk to your vet about adding extra B12 when you are
gone. We found that Sarge did best if we administered an extra shot 2 days before boarding and upon arriving home.
